Tape recorders and computers can be useful in literacy tutoring in three situations. The situations are (1) as an aid in regular tutoring sessions, (2) as a supplement to provide drill and practice, and (3) as a management tool. Samples of these uses include tape recordings of reading assignments for students to take home and study; a computer…

At the heart of the enterprise of providing reading materials to new readers is the writer. The writer must write before the new literates can read and must write both effectively and interestingly. Although talent helps, acquired skills play an important part in writing, especially in expository writing. More important, to enable them to produce…

This pamphlet for adult educators contains information on integrating material on health and life-style into the adult basic education classroom. Ten steps are summarized for discussion in the class by adults: proper exercise, good diet, weight control, avoiding cigarettes, sensible drinking habits, taking drugs, handling stress, safety…

Paradoxically, for reasons both philosophical and practical, public libraries are uniquely positioned to assist the 72 million Americans who, by virtue of being illiterate or marginally literate, are not ordinarily library users. A formal link between libraries and literacy can be traced back to the 1920s when the American Library Association…

This article describes Vermont's "Connections" project, a book discussion program designed to move newly literate adults from practical literacy to "literate" literacy by engaging them in discussion of texts and ideas in the tradition of liberal education in the humanities. The article also describes the Vermont Reading…

Designed for volunteer coordinators in Olympic College's Adult Education Volunteer Classroom Assistant Project, this handbook provides a rationale for each of the coordinators' responsibilities and details procedures for carrying out these functions. Section I provides an overview of the role of the volunteer coordinators, who are responsible for…

Designed for volunteers in Olympic College's Adult Education Volunteer Classroom Assistant Project, this handbook discusses volunteer tutors' roles, characteristics of Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) students, suggested teaching techniques, tips for working with instructors, and college policies and regulations.…

The California Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) is a comprehensive educational system designed to enable adult educators to develop and evaluate a life skills curriculum for competency based educational programs. The system comprises the CASAS Competency List, the CASAS Item Bank, the User's Manual, the Curriculum Index and Matrix, and…

This collection of language activities for the Hispanic adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) student emphasizes real life vocabulary and skills. It is addressed to the student, except where a facilitator is needed for dictation exercises. Nonetheless, an instructor's help is necessary for the manual's use. Vocabulary lists in Spanish and…

A series of case studies observed a literacy program for adolescents and adults which can be administered to 16 students at a time, includes training in touch typing and word processing, treats phonics on an adult level, and uses the kind of technology (such as interactive computer programs) that in itself defines "literacy" for our age.…

This handbook is intended to provide teachers with background information about the writing skills needed by General Educational Development (GED) students as well as practical instructional activities for use in the adult basic education/GED classroom. A guide to using the ideabook explains the POWER format that involves Prewriting, Organizing,…

This booklet contains 10 success stories of Pennsylvania men and women who discovered adult education programs that gave them the tools to create a new life for themselves and their families. Their stories affirm the ability of each adult to use education to overcome great difficulties. Some overcame physical and learning disabilities. Some…

Estimates of the true extent of illiteracy among the United States's adult population vary widely. The Department of Education has estimated that there are 23 million illiterate Americans and an additional 46 million American who function only marginally in an increasingly technological society. Federal support for adult literacy began in 1965…

This article sets forth some ideas as starting points for the initial assessment of reading, particularly for those who are relatively new to adult literacy work. It describes materials to use, including choice of materials and levels of difficulty. Variables that affect a reader's performance are listed. Information is also provided on how to…

Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS) was used as a tool for comparing the typical personalities of full- and part-time adult basic education (ABE) teachers, the correlation between interclass and intraclass relationships of the six personality types for full- and part-time ABE teachers, and the correlation between personality type and job…